Runner dies during Canada stretch of 2024 Detroit marathon
A 57-year-old male runner died Sunday near the fifth mile of the 47th Detroit Free Press Marathon presented by MSU Federal Credit Union, a race official said.
The runner collapsed during the Canada stretch of the 26.2-mile race, which starts and finishes in downtown Detroit. Runners cross over on the Ambassador Bridge and return via the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
The runner was transported to Windsor Regional Hospital, Ouellette Campus, a race official said, where he was pronounced dead. The marathoner’s name and hometown was not immediately available.
“Our condolences go out to him and his family. It’s a sad time for us,” Race Director Aaron Velthoven said. “We’re saddened by this and our hearts go out to (the family).”
Medical emergencies are rare but occasionally do happen during marathons with large fields of participants.
In 2009, three male runners, ages 26, 36 and 65, collapsed and died during the Detroit race’s half-marathon. Autopsies found that two of the runners suffered cardiac dysrhythmia and died of heart attacks. The older runner died of heart disease.
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The only other fatality in the marathon’s history was in 1994, when a 42-year-old Troy man died of a heart attack.
The medical provider for this year’s race, Henry Ford Health, reported eight medical transports Sunday for runners experiencing issues such as low blood pressure, dehydration and exhaustion, a spokesperson for the health system said. Two of the transports were critical, including for the deceased runner.
This story was updated to include information on medical transports during the race.
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